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Category Archives: Road to California 2018

Hoffman Fabrics will be hosting their first ever special exhibit, “Hoffman History,” at Road 2018.

The special exhibit was inspired by Hoffman’s opening presentation for the Schoolhouse Education series at last fall’s Quilt Market in Houston, the major trade show for retailers and manufacturers. Along with a special stand-up banner display and lecture, Hoffman presented a “thank you” video to acknowledge quilt shops’ and quilters’ contributions to Hoffman Fabrics’ success and growth over its 94 years in business.

Why was Road to California chosen as the location to show this special exhibit? Hoffman knew from their early planning stages that they wanted to expand the Quilt Market presentation to Road to California. Hoffman considers Road to California to be the most important consumer show for them for three reasons: 1) Because many Hoffman retailers participate at the show; 2) They often hold office/warehouse tours during the show; and 3) They have a longtime “family business” relationship with the Reese family.

The special exhibit will show Hoffman’s development from its start as Hoffman Woolens in 1924 to becoming a textile converter, introducing various fabrications to the quilting market (the originator of batiks for quilting, for instance, but also as a leader now in cutting-edge digital prints), to their impact on the surf apparel industry, and everything in-between. We’re told that there will even be an actual surfboard in the exhibit!!!

Part of the exhibit will include the Hoffman Challenge, which they have partnered with Road to California as a sponsor over many, many years. Other quilts that will be in the display were generated by Hoffman’s own “quilt fairies” – very talented industry designers/quilters with whom they’ve worked closely with over many years. Hoffman depended on them to design and make outstanding quilts. Some of the quilts have patterns sold by the designers, but many others have become patterns that Hoffman now offers as free downloads from its website. They plan to show quilts that feature their different fabrications and most well-known designs.

What will happen to the exhibit after Road to California 2018? Well, Hoffman isn’t quite sure. They say if the exhibit is well received at Road, perhaps they will show it at another major quilt show or at a quilt, textile, or other type of museum or library – even a major university. They are also thinking about recreating at least a part of it Hoffman’s headquarters in Mission Viejo, California since they offer tours to quilt/sewing guilds as their production/distribution schedule allows throughout the year. Given that Hoffman is close to hitting the century mark, they feel confident that all types of artists, makers, collectors, etc., would be very interested in learning about the history of textiles and of Hoffman Fabrics.

Be sure to stop by Booth 400 and be a part of this historic special exhibit.

Road to California would not be the premier consumer quilt show that it is without our sponsors. “Our sponsors are what keeps us competitive,” shared Show Owner, Matt Reese. Because of their generous support, Road continues to attract the industry’s finest entrants, teachers and vendors which are enjoyed by the thousands of our guests that attend our event.

Road 2018 has five Emerald Sponsors. To be at this second level of sponsorship, (our platinum sponsor, Gammill, is the highest level), an organization donates $5,000. Their generous contribution goes toward prize money for the quilt show contest as well as help fund other aspects of the event. Each Emerald Sponsor will also have a vendor booth on the main floor.

This year’s Emerald Sponsors include:

Babylock has been dedicated to the love of sewing for over 40 years by creating machines for sewing, embroidery, quilting and serging – all with ease-of-use, high quality and a touch of elegance. In addition to easy-to-thread sergers and machines for sewers of any level, Baby Lock enhances the love of sewing with an extensive line of sewing supplies including feet, accessories, software and stabilizer. A family business with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, all Baby Lock machines and products are sold exclusively through Independent Authorized Baby Lock Retailers that can be found throughout the United States and Canada. Babylock products are never sold online.

Handi Quilter makes a reliable, low-maintenance longarm quilting machine. Its innovative technology and quality engineering provide the functionality that quilters demand along with the smoothest stitch in the industry. Every machine is backed by their trusted HQ warranty. They have over 300 trained HQ local retailers, plus offer HQ customer service, education, and technical support. They will be providing machines for classes taught by Suzanne Hyland and Margaret Solomon-Gunn.

Janome’s mission is to produce machines which inspire creativity and innovation, yet are simple to use. In Japanese, the word Janome (pronounced Ja-NO-me) means “eye of the snake.” The company earned the name in the 1920s when founder Yosaku Ose, a pioneer in Japanese sewing manufacturing, began to use a round metal bobbin system instead of the traditional long shuttle. The Japanese thought the new round bobbin looked like a snake’s eye, and from the innovative design, a name was born.

Janome products have been at the cutting edge of sewing technology since the earliest days of their founding. They were the first to develop a computerized machine for home use (the Memory 7, in 1979), the first to offer professional style embroidery to the home market (the Memory Craft 8000, in 1990) and the first to offer a long-arm quilting machine for home use (the Memory Craft 6500P, in 2003). Today, their flagship model, the Horizon Memory Craft 15000, is redefining the way sewists enjoy their hobby. This revolutionary machine is the first-ever wireless-enabled sewing machine.

Janome machines will be made available to students in classes taught by Karla Alexander, Bonnie Browning, Gundrun Erla, and Lora Kennedy.

Moore’s is a family owned business. It started with Edd Moore the founder of Moore’s. Then his son, Jim Moore, took over the company. Today, the company is owned by George Moore. In business fo rover 60 years, Moore’s has seven locations throughout Southern California. They are retailers of Pfaff, Brother, and Baby Lock machines. Moore’s offers interactive classes taught by knowledgeable sewing educators that teach how to use their machines to thier fullest potential.

Pollard’s Sew Creative began in Glendora, California in 1994 when Bill and Marcia Pollard decided to open a fabric store. The shop quickly grew and was warmly welcomed into the community. They were joined in 2002 by their daughter, Jenny Nobile who helped expand their business to a second location in Arcadia, California.

Proud of their exceptional customer service and devotion to helping customers stay up-to-date with the latest sewing trends, Pollard’s is also known for their excellent sewing and embroidery classes, and their unique one-of-a-kind products. They are exclusive dealers of Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking and Bernina’s E-16 machines.

Pollard’s is supplying the machines that will be used by students in Pam Bocko, Cindy Grisdela, Connie Spurlock, Deb Tucker, and Pat Yamin. Pollard’s will be offering these demonstration machines at blow-out prices at the end of the show.

While Latifah Saafir Studios LLC is new to Road’s vendor floor, owner Latifah Saafir is not. This innovative Modern Quilter and founder of the Modern Quilt Guild, presented a Lecture and Trunk Show to kick off Road 2017. Her special presentation was held Tuesday evening, January 17th at the Ontario Museum of History and Art in conjunction with the exhibit being held there, Modern Quilts Redesigning Traditions.

How did Latifah Saafir Studios LLC begin? After Latifah was laid off from her technology job with a Fortune 500 company, she decided to “try my hand at doing something I truly loved.” Already having a ton of contacts in the modern quilt world, Latifah added the resources received from a Kickstarter campaign two years ago to help her launch her product line. Latifah remembers it was a whole lot of work but she wouldn’t have “given up for anything in the world.”

A Los Angeles resident, Latifah and her husband help take care of her 96 year old grandfather. Latifah spends most days building her quilting business. When she does have some free time, she likes to slip out to her guild meetings and hang out with her guild friends.

What does Latifah like about being a new business owner? Creativity. Latifah loves creating products that help people tap into their own beauty and creativity.

Meeting and seeing people is what Latifah is most looking forward to at Road 2018.

In her booth, new and classic Latifah Saafir Studios patterns will be featured as well as her Hoffman fabric line. Latifah will also be demonstrating her “Clammy templates,” showing guests how easy it is to cut and sew all kinds of curved shapes.

Latifah is also curating the Special Exhibit, Expanding Tradition, which will belocated at 713/717 during Road 2018. As Latifah commented, being “surrounded by quilts and quilters for a whole weekend—what could be better than that?!”

To learn more about Latifah Saafir Studios LLC, please visit the website.

From its beginning, the objective of QUILTMANIA Magazine has been to show the diversity and talent of quilters from all over the world, serving as a reference to inspire all passionate quilters.

A “high quality magazine”, the bi-monthly publication debuted in France in 1997 and included high quality photos as well as articles on the best of exhibitions, museums and artists; special features like “Quilts & Enchanting Homes;” and exquisite quilt projects for readers to create.

As the reputation of the magazine quickly grew, the publishers began receiving more and more requests from readers to print an English version of QUILTMANIA. So, in 2005, the company added their English subscription. A third language the magazine is printed in is Dutch.

Today, besides OUILTMANIA, the company has expanded to offering two additional publications. Simply Vintage is a quarterly magazine printed in French and English, that launched in 2011. It is full of Vintage – Folk Art inspirations featuring different techniques like punch needle, hook rugs, and embroidery.

Their most recent addition, Simply Moderne, is all about modern quilts, bringing a fresh and more contemporary view of the quilting world. Another quarterly magazine, it first came out in 2015 and is also available in French and English.

Due to the success of their publications overseas, QUILTMANIA opened a United States office in 2017 and are now printing their English version magazines in Wisconsin. This move enables readers and quilt shops in the United States to get their magazines sooner. It also lowers the shipping costs on QUILTMANIA’s books, magazines and other products as they are now sending them domestically, saving their loyal customers time and money.

Road 2018 will be the first time for QUILTMANIA to be attending Road to California. They are looking forward to “attending one of the important quilt shows in the United States and Canada,” meeting their “readers and artists in person so as to continue building a warm friendship” with everyone.

Please welcome QUILTMANIA to Road to California as they celebrate their 10th Anniversary.

Road to California would not be the premier consumer quilt show that it is without our sponsors. “Our sponsors are what keeps us competitive,” shared Show Owner, Matt Reese. Because of their generous support, Road continues to attract the industry’s finest entrants, teachers and vendors which are enjoyed by the thousands of our guests that attend our event.

For the fourth year in a row, our Platinum Sponsor is Gammill. Since 1980, the Gammill Quilting Machine Company has been an innovative leader in machine quilting. They were the first to develop a large-throat sewing machine on tracks which could be operated from both sides and move in any direction on a specially-designed stand. This revolutionary idea enabled pantograph patterns to be traced directly onto fabric, therefore making it possible to complete a quilt or bedspread in a matter of hours rather than days.

Their Platinum Sponsor contribution of $10,000 is the grand prize for the Best of Show quilt entry in our quilt contest. In addition, Gammill provides their Gammill Quilting Systems Stand Up Longarm Machines for classes taught by experienced Gammill quilters. And throughout the show, Gammill hosts a booth front and center on the main show floor.

Last year’s Best of Show winner was The Twisted Sister, made and quilted by Margaret Gunn.

Currently, this year’s accepted entries are being received at our home office, waiting for their official judging. Gammill is anxiously awaiting to see which quilt rises to the top.

Classes using Gammill Quilting Systems Stand Up Longarm Machines are being offered several days during the week of the show. On Monday and Tuesday, Kristin Vierra of Quilter on the Run, will be teaching on the Gammill machines, guiding students with their hands-on experience.

1014R Fun Feathers that Fit Anywhere

2014R Easy Background Fillers for Longarm Quilters

Kris began her long arm quilting business over 10 years ago on a used Gammill machine. Since then, she has purchased a new, Gammill Vision 2. In November, 2016, Kris was honored to be chosen as an official Gammill Quilt Artist.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, the three sisters from Sew Kind of Wonderful (Helen Robinson, Jenny Pedigo, and Sherilyn Mortensen) will taking turns teaching classes using the Gammill Machines:

3018R Wonder Feathers

5012R Wonderfills

6010R Caution! Curves Ahead

Something to note: Helen has recently been named a Gammill Ambassador.

Looking to learn more about the Gammill Quilting Systems? Visit their booth where company experts can guide you through hands-on practicing with their machines. Last year, a highlight for the staff was helping young quilter, 10-year-old Angela, practice on her “dream machine.”

Gammill is always “thrilled” to play an integral part of Road to California. The company appreciates the show’s great mix of education, vendors, special events, quilt showcases and fun. Says Gammill representative, Shandi Brinkman, “Road to California attracts such outstanding talent. We are excited to be able to recognize the creativity, hard work and dedication of quilters.”

It is Matt Reese’s hope that Gammill and Road to California will continue to enjoy “a long and lasting relationship.”

Did you know Jodi Barrows has authored three quilt-themed novels and 26 quilt pattern books?

Her novels take place during the 1856-time period and is based on her own family. Since she enjoys the 1800’s, she likes to look at fabrics, clothing, museums, antiques, homes – just about everything that comes from that time period. She also spends a considerable amount of her professional time giving lectures on women and quilting.

In addition to being an author, Jodi’s quilts have appeared in numerous publications and she has been a guest on several television programs.

Did you know Jodi Barrows started her company Square in a Square® over 25 years ago as a way to promote her own quilt technique and tools?

Jodi says “that one tool does all triangle units and all of them can be done in any size.”

During Jodi’s early days of quilting, she felt that “cutting out templates one at a time and putting them back together always seemed like a big waste of time. My grandmother always did multiple projects at the same time similar to today’s modern strip piecing techniques. So it was natural for me to realize that there has to be a better way to produce triangle units without all of the hassle. Doing, quilt biology, I was able to dissect the units in my head and it started my way of thinking that lead to the Square in a Square piecing technique.”

In her booth at Road 2018, Jodi will be featuring Square in a Square® books, rulers, patterns, fabric, fabric kits and education. In addition to everything Square in a Square® , she will also have her newest novel, Threads of Courage, to go along with her two others. Plus, being a fabric designer, she will feature her latest fabric collection complete with quilts made from the new designs.

Did you know Jodi Barrows has been teaching quilting classes for over 24 years?

Jodi has a family history of quilting. She “really got in to piecing” at her local church attending an outreach class that combined bible study with quilting.

Jodi will be teaching 2 classes at Road 2018:

On Monday, 1001C Square in a Square (Concentrating on Square)

and on Tuesday, 2001C Square in a Square (Concentrating on Diamond)

What does Jodi enjoy most about teaching? The “thrill” of seeing “the student when that lightbulb moment” happens; when they first see “the unlimited possibilities” of her teaching. Jodi says that she likes to inspire her students to realize that they can achieve projects that they never thought possible.

In her classes, Jodi likes to “teach knowledge” — something that the student can still have long after the class is over. Instead of taking home an unfinished project (UFO), Jodi refers that her students take home information and knowledge which provide motivation for the student to keep sewing and working on projects.

Did you know Jodi Barrow’s best quilting tip has to do with a sewing machine?

“When doing any sewing, including quilting, always keep a “runner” in your sewing machine. Our sewing machines are happier when they have fabric in them, so always put your “runner” in before you clip off or take your project off of the machine. I teach this in every class and it doesn’t take long to convince the student of its value. Give it a try.”

To learn more about Jodi and her books, her company, and her teaching, please visit her website.

Christa Watson will be guiding her students with their free motion quilting skills in four classes during Road to California 2017:

Monday: 1016C Fun with Free-motion Swirls

Tuesday: 2016C Free-Motion: Designs with Lines

Wednesday: 3015C Free Motion Improv

Thursday: 4015C Modern Free Motion Fillers

Machines provided for Christa’s classes are the Handi Quilter Sweet 16, a sit-down longarm machine. The machine stays stationary while students learn to move their fabric. Skills taught in this class can be used on any domestic or sit down longarm machine where the quilter is moving the fabric through the machine.

Usually, if you ask a quilter who taught them to quilt, they will often reply, “My mother.” But in the case of Christa Watson, it was Christa who taught her mother to quilt!! Christa started quilting 24 years ago when a friend invited Christa to help tie quilts she was making for charity. Christa loved the tactile nature of touching cloth and thread so for her, “it was really love at first stitch!”

Christa’s mother had always been a great seamstress but never made quilts. She tried to get Christa interested in sewing clothing, bags and other “3-D” items when she was younger but Christa just wasn’t interested. Once Christa took up quilting, her mom was her very first student and has been enjoying it ever since. Christa loves that quilting gives her and her mom something to do together.

Christa really likes utilizing modern, geometric designs in her quilts. She is always on the lookout for interesting shapes found in nature and architecture, taking pictures and thinking about how what she is seeing would make a great quilt design.

Before Christa started teaching nationally, the first class that she ever took at a quilt show was at Road to California!!It was a thread painting class from Road award winning quilter, Nancy Prince. The class was taken during the time when Christa was trying to figure out what her “niche” was (hint – it’s machine quilting). Although Christa didn’t stick with thread painting, she still felt “it was the best class because I was able to observe what makes a good, successful teacher: someone who knows their subject, cares about their students, present their material in a fun and engaging way, and has so much passion for their work that it’s obvious with every stitch they take.” Christa hopes her students at Road 2018 will “walk away with the belief, that yes, it’s possible to quilt their own quilts and have a great time doing it!”

What does Christa like most about teaching? “Hands down, I love interacting with my students. I love that spark of excitement I see on their faces when they understand a concept I’m teaching. Their whole face lights up and they become much more relaxed and less nervous. I love being in a room full of enthusiastic, engaged students who are eager to learn.”

When asked what her best quilting tip was, of course it had to do with free motion quilting: “When you want to learn a free-motion quilting design, practice quilting the design on a small practice square (about 10” x10”) every day for a week. After a few days, you’ll start to see a noticeable improvement.”

Christa shared with Road a touching experience that she once had while teaching: “I had a student once who was grieving the loss of a loved one. She told me that she hadn’t planned on coming to class but her family insisted she get out and do something to distract herself. She said she was so glad she came, because it really was therapeutic for her to stitch out her emotions in cloth. She said the friendship and camaraderie of the other students was just what she needed at that point it time. It was hard for me to hold back my own tears as she told me this, and I’m really glad I could be there for her that day.”

Road is proud to welcome Christa Watson to their teaching staff for 2018.

The 1,000 year old craft of stained or art glass, is often found in the windows of churches, mosques and other significant structures. Stained glass is made from glass that has been colored by adding metallic salts. Small pieces of the glass is crafted to form patterns or pictures held together by strips of lead.

Iglesia Santa Barbara de Santa Rosalia, Designed by Gustave Eiffel,

Just as art glass requires the artistic skill to conceive an appropriate and workable design and skills to engineer the piece, so does creating a stained glass effect with fabric. Road 2018 teacher Allie Aller has achieved just such a mastery and will be sharing her unique techniques in three classes. Allie will be teaching on Monday,

1017C Intro to Stained Glass Quilting, Allie Style

on Tuesday, 2017C Through a Gothic Window

and on Wednesday, 3017C Stained Glass Pillow

Allie began quilting in 1971. As she puts it, she “stumbled through” her first quilt (made out of bandannas from the army surplus store) entirely on her own. Her cousin was at that same time working in applique as a freelance illustrator. Allie credits her cousin as the one who took her by the hand and sent Allie off in the right direction.

Everything Allie does is “quilt related.” An avid gardener, Allie says she gets inspiration for her stained glass effect quilts “absolutely 100%” from her garden. The fabrics she uses reflect and express the colors and forms that she sees there. “My quilts look like my garden and my garden looks like my quilts. The line is totally blurred…” confides Allie.

Allie also is an avid traveler. The farthest she has traveled was to Varanasi, India, where she bought the most beautiful jacquard silks in the world. She is excited to be returning back to India this winter to study Indian quilts and handcrafts.

Allie enjoys teaching, sharing with her students new concepts and skills, and watching them take off with what they are learning. While Allie will be sharing the various and wide interpretations of stained glass quilting, she hope her students will leave her classes with smiles, great memories, and increased confidence and enthusiasm for their work.

What is Allie’s best quilting tip? “Practice, practice, practice. Think of your quilting the same way as playing a musical instrument. There are skills to learn, craft techniques to perfect, ideas to jam with…. but the bottom line is, it takes practice to be able to do what you want to do. Get it in your hands. Have discipline. And play your heart out.”

A Midwest business, Traditional Primitives is looking forward to coming to beautiful Southern California in January to share their products with the guests at Road to California.

Owner Missie Carpenter alternated between two hobbies in the 80’s: quilting and English smocking. In the mid-90’s, she became totally devoted to her quilting, enjoying small stitching groups in the towns she has lived in across the Midwest.

Traditional Primitives began when, out of necessity, Missie created an original tote for carrying sewing supplies. Her family’s pup, Ginger, loved to find sewing goodies in her basket and chew on them; everything from leather thimbles to spools of thread and even some of the fabric she was sewing with. Thanks to Ginger, the Sewing Bee Binder, a zip up tote for sewing supplies, was created. When Missie took the binder to sewing groups and quilt shops, people began asking her for the pattern. Those requests started a “very tiny business” which grew to her larger business today. Traditional Primitives offers not only original patterns for quilting, punchneedle and wool appliqué’, but also some original notions that make English Paper Piecing “so much more precise and quick.”

What does Missie like most about her business? Sharing her technique for basting English Paper Piecing (and applique’) with starch and the notions that make it work so great. Missie says she “loves sharing this technique with anyone who WANTS to enjoy EPP, but STRUGGLES with the basting. It’s FUN to see them enjoy EPP due to this technique and the notions I’ve created for this purpose.”

What will Road 2018 guests be able to find at the Traditional Primitives booth? “Lots of eye candy for those who love traditional quilts with a touch of primitive style.” Traditional Primitives works with both reproduction and traditional fabrics along with wools, adding the primitive touch. They also will be offering original punchneedle designs, wool appliqué and lots of English Paper Pieced designs along with their notions. Items such as The Starch Brush, Fingertip Stiletto, Premium Freezer Paper and Hexie Shaped Pressing Mats. Demonstrations will be offered throughout the show.

Because color and value are a huge part of making a successful quilt, Lee Chappell Monroe incorporates these principles in to every class she teaches. Says Lee, “I try to intersperse color, piecing and quilting tips throughout my classes. It’s not just about learning how to make that one project, but expanding their quilting skills.” All of Lee’s classes are very hands on. She wants all her students to have an enjoyable day and leave her class with lots of new knowledge, as well as a project they’re excited to finish.

Lee Chappell Monroe will be teaching four classes at Road 2018:

On Wednesday, 3019C Understanding the Rainbow

Thursday, 4017C Lulee’s Garden Quilt Pattern

Friday, 5016C Precision Piecing All Squared Up

And on Saturday, 6014C Blooming Dresdens

Quilts are a big part of Lee’s life in Winston Salem, North Carolina. She lives in a “cute little 1929 cottage” that she loves spending time renovating and filling with quilts. Her “main partner in crime” is her pup, Mack the Chihuahua. He’s a frequent user of Lee’s quilts, taking daily naps on giant piles of quilts that Lee calls “Mount Mack.” And every year, Lee makes a quilt for her one and only “awesome” older brother.

Lee’s mother taught Lee to sew at a young age. A master garment maker and of all things, Lee refers to her mom as “The Guru.” Lee says her mother felt sewing was an important life skill that everyone needs to master. Before quilting, Lee only sewed if she needed something. When she was moving into her first apartment, Lee wanted a patchwork quilt. She asked her mom to make it but she wasn’t interested so that was how Lee ended up making her first quilt, using her mother’s stash!!

Where does Lee find inspiration for her quilts? “Everywhere! From a walk through the neighborhood to a cool tile floor, I find inspiration all over the place. I’m never without a sketchbook.”

A lifelong learner, Lee says she loves to “take classes that are out of my comfort zone.” Once, she took a map improv class with Timna Tarr. It definitely was totally out of her comfort zone, but she loved it. She learns something new in every class she has ever taken.

On her blog, Lee has a series called Terrific Tip Tuesdays where she passes along things she has learned that makes sewing and quilting easier. One of Lee’s best tips is to label your batting scraps right after you cut one. Lee says, “You’re way more likely to use them if you just have to look at the label and grab it! It’s so simple, but makes a huge difference.”

What does Lee like most about teaching? “Seeing all the different interpretations of my patterns. I love to see how different the projects look with different fabrics. Plus, I get to meet so many amazing quilters! Teaching is my favorite part of my job!!”